News & Events
Intersil Introduces Industry's Most Accurate Multiphase Core Controller with Thermal Monitoring and Temperature Tracking Over-Current Protection
MILPITAS, CA, September 12, 2005 Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog solutions, today expanded its broad PWM (pulse width modulation) controller portfolio with the introduction of the ISL6316, a high-performance CPU multiphase core controller for Intel-based VRD (voltage regulator down) 10.X and EVRD (enterprise voltage regulator down) 10.X desktop, workstation and server motherboards. Continuing Intersils strategy of providing the industrys most precise VR10.X PWM controllers, the four-phase ISL6316 is the industrys most accurate CPU core controller and includes thermal monitoring and tracking OCP (over-current protection) over temperature, with + or -0.5 percent system accuracy over the complete CPU voltage range.
The temperature thresholds of the ISL6316 are programmable to enable the controller to communicate to the CPU and alert the system when the voltage regulator overheats (VRHOT), signaling the CPU to reduce its power consumption. The ISL6316 is also able to turn on a CPU or system fan (VRFAN) signal to cool the CPU down or identify when the CPU overheats and inform it to shut down. The ISL6316 is the industrys only VR10.X and EVRD10.X CPU core controller with tracking OCP over temperature that is based on a single, external NTC (negative temperature coefficient) thermistor.
The current limit threshold of the ISL6316 is the same either at room temperature or at elevated temperatures inside a system chassis, said Steve Rivet, Director of Intersil's Desktop/Server Power Management Products Group. This offers significant improvements in reliability in mission-critical applications, such as servers, routers, switchers, or storage area network (SAN) and network attached storage (NAS) systems. The system designer can program the ISL6316, for example, to respond to an overload of 130A at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and know that it will have the same current limit threshold of 130A at an ambient temperature of 60 degrees Celsius.
Highest Precision, Accuracy and Performance
The ISL6316 controls microprocessor core voltage regulation by driving up to four synchronous-rectified buck channels in parallel. Multiphase buck converter architecture uses interleaved timing to multiply channel ripple frequency and reduce input and output ripple currents. Lower ripple results in fewer components, reducing overall component cost, power dissipation and board area.
This device provides very accurate over-current protection, phase-to-phase current balance and loadline accuracy through differential current sensing as well as very precise voltage regulation through differential voltage sensing. Differential current sensing (measuring the current across the current sense element) ensures the multiphase converter eliminates any current measurement inaccuracy due to PCB (Printed Circuit Board) layout. The ISL6316 features adjustable precision reference voltage offset to enable precise loadline programming. The offset pin allows accurate voltage offset settings that are independent of VID (voltage identification) setting.
The ISL6316 senses current by measuring the voltage across the on-resistance (rDS(on)) of the lower MOSFETs (metal oxide silicon field effect transistors) or DCR (direct current resistance) of the output inductor. The ISL6316 is paired with Intersils ISL6612/12A/13/13A/14/14A and ISL6605/08 FET drivers. Dynamic VID technology allows seamless VID changes.
Key Features
- Precision multiphase core voltage regulation
- Differential remote voltage sensing
- + or -0.5 percent system accuracy over life, load, line and temperature
- Adjustable precision reference voltage offset
- Precision rDS(on) or DCR current sensing
- Accurate loadline programming
- Differential current sense
- Temperature-tracking OCP
- Thermal monitoring
- Desktop, workstation, server and industrial PC computer motherboards
- Voltage regulator modules (VRMs)
- Routers and switches
- ASIC core multiphase buck DC/DC converter on VRMs, point-of-load and DC/DC converters
Intersil is a recognized global leader in power management solutions, offering a broad portfolio of products that simplify a variety of power designs. Intersils family of power management ICs ranges from building blocks such as charge pumps, to highly-integrated, multiple-output and multi-phase PWMs, to quad-voltage hot-swap controllers. As a leading supplier of PWM controller ICs with over 1 billion units shipped, Intersil addresses a broad range of power management needs for applications that include computing, communications, peripherals, display, networking, telecommunications, industrial, instrumentation and battery-powered products. To learn more, visit Intersils Power Management Web site at http://www.intersil.com/power.
Pricing and Availability
The ISL6316 is available now in a 40-lead QFN standard or lead-free package and is priced at $2.55 in 1,000-unit quantities. More information on the ISL6316 is available at http://www.intersil.com/cda/deviceinfo/0,1477,ISL6316,0.html. A large selection of power products is supported by Intersils iSim online design tool. To explore these solutions, visit http://www.intersil.com/isim/. To view a broad range of application block diagrams, visit Intersils Application Design Center at http://www.intersil.com/apps.
Note to editors: To view a high-resolution downloadable photo of the ISL6316, visit Intersils photo room at: http://www.intersil.com/pressroom/photoarchives.asp. About Intersil
Intersil Corporation, a NASDAQ 100 Index company, is a leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog semiconductors. The company’s products address three of the industry’s fastest growing markets: flat panel displays, optical storage (CD and DVD recordable) and power management. Intersil products include power management devices for battery management, hot-swap and hot-plug controllers, linear regulators, supervisory ICs, switching DC/ DC regulators and power MOSFET drivers; optical storage laser diode drivers; DSL line drivers; video and high performance operational amplifiers; data converters; interface ICs; analog switches and multiplexers; crosspoint switches; voice-over-IP devices; and ICs for military, space and rad-hard applications. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company’s web site and career page at www.intersil.com.
iSim is a trademark of Intersil Corporation. All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
